His Eminence the Most Reverend '''Philip (Saliba)''', Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America (born [[June 10]], 1931), is the current primate of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] (1966 to present).

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His Eminence the Most Reverend '''Philip (Saliba)''', Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America (born [[June 10]], 1931), is the current primate of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] (1966 to present). He is currently the longest serving Orthodox bishop in American history.

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Metr. Philip shares the same surname as Metropolitan Archbishop [[Paul (Saliba) of Australia and New Zealand]], but is otherwise unrelated.

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He is also one of two Vice Chairmen of the [[Episcopal Assembly of North and Central America]].

==Life==

==Life==

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===Achievements as Metropolitan===

===Achievements as Metropolitan===

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During his tenure as metropolitan, His Eminence has made multiple major achievements for his flock, including the founding of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America]] (1973), the [[Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch]] (1975), and the St. Stephen's Course of Theological Studies (1980). In 1978, he purchased the land for and founded the [[Antiochian Village]] retreat center and summer camp, where the Antiochian House of Studies program (founded 1992) is held. One of his most famous acts was the reception of the majority of the [[Evangelical Orthodox Church]] in 1987, renaming them the ''Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission''.

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During his tenure as metropolitan, His Eminence has made multiple major achievements for his flock, including the founding of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America]] (1973), the [[Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch]] (1975), and the [[St. Stephen's Course in Orthodox Theology]] (1980). In 1978, he purchased the land for and founded the [[Antiochian Village]] retreat center and summer camp, where the Antiochian House of Studies program (founded 1992) is held. One of his most famous acts was the reception of the majority of the [[Evangelical Orthodox Church]] in 1987, renaming them the ''Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission''.

In 1975, Metropolitan Philip led the healing of the division between the two Antiochian archdioceses in America. With Metropolitan [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]], he combined the Archdioceses of New York and Toledo into a single archdiocese, becoming its primate while Archbishop Michael retired as an auxiliary archbishop.

In 1975, Metropolitan Philip led the healing of the division between the two Antiochian archdioceses in America. With Metropolitan [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]], he combined the Archdioceses of New York and Toledo into a single archdiocese, becoming its primate while Archbishop Michael retired as an auxiliary archbishop.

*[http://www.balamand.edu.lb/theology/NEWS/phili0602/metphil0602.htm Pictures of the Historic Visit of Metropolitan PHILIP to Balamand], June 21, 2002

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*[http://web.archive.org/web/20021020052147/http://www.balamand.edu.lb/theology/NEWS/phili0602/metphil0602.htm Pictures of the Historic Visit of Metropolitan PHILIP to Balamand (Archive.org)], June 21, 2002

Life

Early years: The Middle East and UK

Philip was born Abdullah Saliba in the small village of Abou Mizan in Lebanon. In 1945, at the age of 14, he went to seminary at the Balamand Orthodox Theological Seminary in Tripoli, Lebanon, where he met his lifelong friend, known today as His Grace, Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of Miami. He finished his schooling there in 1947, going to to further his studies at the Orthodox Secondary School in Homs, Syria (1947-1949).

He was ordained a deacon on August 6, 1949, and appointed Secretary (1949-1953) to Patriarch Alexander III of Antioch, while continuing his studies at Assiyah College, Damascus, Syria (1949-1951). During his service as Patriarchal Secretary, he returned to Balamand Seminary and served as Dean of Students and Lecturer in Arabic Language and Literature (1952), eventually going to England and and pursuing further studies at Kelham Theological School, Nottinghamshire, UK (1953) and the University of London (1953).

Coming to America

Dcn. Philip then came to the country where he would embark upon his life's work—the United States. At first, he continued his theological studies at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts (1956), but left in 1956 to earn a B.A. in History at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan (1956-1959), serving at nearby St. George Church (also in Detroit) as a deacon.

In 1975, Metropolitan Philip led the healing of the division between the two Antiochian archdioceses in America. With Metropolitan Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo, he combined the Archdioceses of New York and Toledo into a single archdiocese, becoming its primate while Archbishop Michael retired as an auxiliary archbishop.